Jefferson believed in democracy because of his fearless belief in reason. He knew that reason was far from perfect, but he also knew that it was the best faculty we have. He knew that it was better than all the frightened and angry intolerances with which we fence off our own back-yards at the cost of injustice. Thought must be free. Discussion must be free. Reason must be free to range among the widest possibilities. Even the opinion we hate, and have reasons for believing wrong, we must leave free so that reason can operate on it, so that we advertise our belief in reason and demonstrate a faith unafraid of the consequences - because we know that the consequences will be right. Freedom is really not the aim and end of Jeffersonian democracy : freedom is the means by which democracy can rationally choose justice for all.